middle eastern comfort food

Ingredients

1. 3/4 cup green or brown lentils
2. 1 cup rice
3. 1 medium onion, minced
4. 1 1/2 tsp cumin
   About 1 tsp Salt
5. Black pepper (1/2 tsp – 3/4 tsp) to taste
6. Water
7. Canola oil

Directions

• Soak the lentils in water overnight (you can add 1/4 teaspoon or so of cumin to the water to boost flavor), before cooking them, rinse lentils in cold water. (shortcut: microwave lentils in water for 2 minutes stirring every minute. then rinse, and let sit in new water for an hour or two until they fluff up.)

• Put the rice in a strainer and run water over it until the water comes out clear. (cleaning out the starch) Let rice sit for 10 minutes in strainer to dry up.

• Meanwhile, mince onion (tiny, tiny pieces or to preference) sautee onion in a bit of oil (i use canola) on low/medium heat, until it becomes soft and turns a golden color (you can reserve some of the fried onion 1/4 cup to put over the rice when serving)

• Add rinsed and drained lentils to the onion ; fry together for two minutes. Add the cumin and a pinch of salt and pepper.

• Add rice, and continue sauteeing until grains become transparent.

• Add water (not so much just enough to cover the rice and about up to the first line “knuckle” on your finger. (about a cup and a half to at the most a cup and 3/4s)

• Add the salt and a bit more pepper and bring to a boil, turn heat down to low, cover with a lid. cook for about 20minutes. you can check on it at 15minutes with a fork to see if there is still liquid at the bottom. Cook for just a few minutes longer if needed

• Let rice sit covered for 10-20 minutes with the lid on.

• Before serving gently fluff rice with a fork – this will mix the rice and lentils together, and adjust for salt.

• If rice appears to need an extra kick you can add a small tab of margarine when you fluff it. (which is usually the secret to making rice tasting better when needed) With this type of rice I doubt you will need to do that because it involves frying the rice in oil.)
• Serves 4!  or 2 with yummy leftovers. great with roasted chicken 🙂